Database of Legislation

13. (1) All acts of human trafficking are prohibited in Nigeria.          

(2) (i) Any person who recruits, transports, transfers, harbours or receives another person by means of -

(a) threat or use of force or other forms of coercion;

(b) abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability; or

 (c) giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation of that person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and to a fine of not less than N250,000.00

(ii) For the purpose of subsection (2) (i) (b), abuse of a position of vulnerability includes intentionally using or otherwise taking advantage of an individual’s personal, situational or circumstantial vulnerability to recruit, transport, transfer, habour or receive that person for the purpose of exploiting him or her, such that the person believes that submitting to the will of the abuser is the only real or acceptable option available to him or her and that this belief is reasonable in the light of the victim’s situation.

(3) A person who in or outside Nigeria directly or indirectly –

(a) does, or threatens any act preparatory to or in furtherance of an act of trafficking in persons;

(b) omits to do anything that is reasonably necessary to prevent an act of  trafficking in persons;

(c) assists or facilitates the activities of persons engaged in acts of trafficking in persons  or is an accessory to any offence under this Act;